Lid closure for can containers



2 July s, 195s A, BAJADA 2,842,295

7 LID cLosURE FOR cANcoNTAINl-:Rs

Filed 24, 1956 ALE" IN V EN TOR.

ANTHONY BAJAA 70M] y ATTORNEYS LED CLOSURE FR CAN CNTANERS Anthony Bajada, San Francisco, Calif. Application January 24, 1956, Serial No. 561,642 Claims. (Cl. 222-485) This invention relates generally to the can container art. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel can end closure formed with'at least one pouring or dispensing opening normally sealed by a press-it type plug closure adapted to be pushed inwardly into the can body to permit the contents to be poured or dispensed therefrom.

it is conventional practice in the art to can beer as well as other types of pourable food and non-food liquids in conventional hermetically seemed `can containers. A conventional can container of the type referred to comprises, generally, a cylindrical can body formed of tin-plated sheet steel or black iron closed at its opposite ends by circular lids or covers each of which is seamed around its outer periphery to an associated end of the can body. Conventional practice also requires that when the contents of the can is to be dispensed, it is necessary to use some form of can opener which cuts or pierces one of the metal end closures to provide an opening through which the liquid contents can be poured.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a unique end or lid closure for a can body which incorporates at least one preformed pouring or dispensing lopening normally closed and hermetically sealed by a plug type closure press-fitted into the opening from the inside of the can lid. To open the can and pour the contents therefrom, the plug may be manually pushed inwardly into the can body without the necessity of having to employ can openers or other tools or instruments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid closure of the character briefly mentioned above and in which each pouring opening and plug closure therefor may be incorporated as an integral component of the lid Without adding any substantial `cost to the manufacture of the completed can container and without necessitating any substantial changes in conventional can manufacturing methods or equipment. In this connection, one or more pouring openings can be punched in the can lids and the plug closures press-fitted therein prior to the assembly of the lids to the can bodies. nature of the pouring opening and the plug closures pressfitted therein are such that they will not interfere with subsequent manufacturing operations in assembling the can components and/ or in lling the can container according to commonly practiced procedures utilizing existing manufacturing equipment.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a can lid closure as hereinabove mentioned and in which the plugs normally closing the pouring openings are hingedly vconnected to the underside of the lid body to prevent the plugs from loosely dropping inside of the can body when it is pushed inwardly.

Other numerous objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading Vthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

Moreover, the .f

25,842,295 "'l'Fatented July 8, 1958 ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can container embodying the-invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective transverse sectional View of one embodiment of a lid Vclosure embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective transverse sectional view of a second embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective transverse sectional View of a third embodiment of the lid.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a can container incorporating a lid closure of modied design.

Fig. 6 is a perspective transverse sectional view of the lid incorporated in the can container of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinged closure shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan viewlof the can container shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the reference character A indicates generally a can container incorporating an end or lid closure B constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In general, the can container A may be considered to be conventional in construction and design and includes a cylindrical can body lli made from suitable tin-plated or coated sheet metal or black iro-n longitudinally seamed and soldered as at 12 and closed at its bottom end by a conventional end closure 13 hermetically seamed around its outer periphery to the can body defining the usual bead i4.

The opposite end closure 16, which will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the lid closure or lid, is made of the saine material and is seamed as at i7 to the can body in the same manner as bottom end closure 13, all in accordance with conventional and well understood practices in the 'can making art. Inthis connection, it is an important object of the invention to permit can containers embodying the invention to .be manufactured by existing methods and equipment except in the particulars which will hereinafter be explained. An general, the oniy difference in can manufacturing procedure that will be necessary to follow in the practice of the present invention is to punch and otherwise fabricate the lid `closure lo to provide one or more plug sealed pouring openings, such as are designated generally at 13 in Fig. 1, prior to application of the lid to the can body. As will more fully appear, the additional manufacturing steps necessary to provide the pouring openings and press-fitted closures therefor is of minor consequence compared to the total machinery requirements of a can making assembly line.

Figs. of the lid closurel incorporating pouring openings press-fitted closures used in `connection therewith.

In Fig. 2 the lid member lloE- is shown in its condition of manufacture prior to application to the end of a can body. The lid member is formed with the usual gasket lined seam forming iiange 17a and inner beaded ring l5. It will be appreciated that the interior surfaces of the lid element would be normally coated or plated with tin or other suitable non-oxidizing material conventionally utilizedfto line the interior surfaces of can containers. The lid member 16a is shown as being formed with two identical openings 19 which may be punched or stamped therein by conventional punch and die equipment in such manner that each opening is defined by an upwardly raised or embossed circular bead or ridge 21 and an inwardly turned or depending annular flange 22. The beaded ring 2l and depending fiange 22 function to provide reinforcement around each opening to prevent possible deformation thereof. The height of eachembossed ridge and ..21 is preferably made equal tothe height of inner ring 2-7 disclose various embodiments or modifications formed with an embossed depending of the can and the reinforcing embossed surfaces 33 to be hereinafter described.

Each plug-closure 23 may be stamped of sheet metal to define a plug body portion 24 of substantially the same diameter asan associated opening 19 and an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 26 of larger diameter than said opening 19. As shown in Fig. 2, the plugbody portion 24 is press-fitted from the interior side ofilid 16 into tight sealing engagement within an opening 19, and with the llange 26 of the plug closure tightly seated against depending flange 22 of the opening i9. The plug is shaped and proportioned to be press-fitted into position within the opening so as to provide a tight seal to conline and protect the contents of the can against spillage or introduction of air to the can interior. However, the lit between the plug closure and opening i9 is preferably not made so tight as to prevent the plug from being pushed inwardly into the can through application of manual pressure alone applied from the exterior of the can body. Consequently, when an ultimate consumer dcsires to open the can, he does not have to resort to the use of a can opener or other special opening tool or utensil. Assuming that two plug openings are formed in the can lid, such as indicated in the drawings, the ultimate user or consumer would normally depress both plug closures 23 thereby providing one available opening as a pouring or dispensing aperture through which the contents of the can can be poured, and with the other opening serving as a vent to admit air into the can as the contents are poured therefrom.

The embodiment of the lid closure shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings is identical to the lid construction shown in previously described Fig. 2. Accordingly, identical parts in each of the two drawings are designated by the same reference characters. Each plug closure 225UL shown in Fig. 3 differs from closures 23 shown in Fig. 2 in that said closure 23a is formed with an annularly grooved llange 26 shaped and proportioned to snugly receive and embrace opposite sides of depending flange 22 of the opening 21 and to provide, in effect, a seamed joint or tit between the said flanges 22 and 26a. Each plug closure 23 is also formed with a plug body portion 24a press-fitted from the inside of the lid into an opening 19 whereby to open the can container, each said plug may be pushed inwardly into the can body as heretofore explained.

The lid component of Fig. 4 is also identical to lid 16 designated in previous figures. The plug closures 23h of Fig. 4, however, are each made from an integral plastic body defining a plug body 24b for press-fitted insertion into each opening 19 of the lid. The plastic closure also delines a cap or ange 26b of larger diameter than opening 19 which said llange 26b is adapted to tightly seat against flange 22 of an associated opening 19.

lt is noted, of course, that in each of the above described embodiments of the invention, the plug closure llanges 26, 262L and 2Gb each functions to prevent the plug closures from being withdrawn or removed outwardly through the lid openings 19 into which they are respectively inserted.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 disclose how the plug closures may be hingedly connected to the inside of the can lid so that when the closures are depressed and pushed inwardly, they will not drop loosely into the interior of the can body. As indicated in the drawings, the two plug closures indicated at 23c for closing the two openings 19 formed in the lid 16h are both stamped or otherwise preformed from an integral piece of sheet metal 30. It is appreciated that the member 30 may be formed of the same sheet material from which the can body is made.

The lid 16h, in addition to being formed with the previously mentioned pouring openings 19, is also boss or lug 31. "Ihe metal strip 30 is, in turn, formed with a circular opening `32. proportioned to be telescoped over boss 31 in press- 2,842,295 Y f ff fitted engagement therewith. As shown in Fig. 6, each of the plugs 23 may be pushed inwardly from their respec tive openings 19 to cause the metal strip 30 to bend downwardly into the can body from its point of attachment 3031 to the can lid.

lt is noted that in each embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the lid component is formed with an embossed upwardly raised continuous bead 33 which in plan view is formed generally in the shape of a distorted ligure 3. More specifically, the embossed bead 33 parallels the inner ring 15. The bead 33 also arcuately parallels the inwardly located raised or beaded surfaces 21 of each of the openings 1 9. The height of the bead 33 is preferably made equal to the height of the inner annular beaded ring 15 of the lid body and the embossed surfaces 21. The purpose of the bead 33 is to provide greater rigidity to the lid body and to reduce the possibility of the lid from deforming after it has been applied to the can body due to pressures generated within the can, such as during pasteurization. ln this connection, it has been observed that conventional beer can ends have a tendency to deform and bulge outwardly' during the pasteurization cycle when considerable gas pressure is generated within the can. In lid closures constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is desirable to maintain the lid in as at a plane as possible to prevent the lid from bowing or bulging in such manner as to cause the possible unseating of the plug closures from openings 19. Additionally, the embossed bead 33 provides in conjunction with the embossed surfaces 21 level surfaces for supporting the lid on the pressure plate or pad (not shown) utilized to apply the lid to the can body. In short, the provision of the raised bead 33 and surfaces 21 provide level support for the lid to rest on and be engaged by the pressure pad when the lid is applied to the can body. Because the beaded surfaces 21 are slightly raised beyond the plane of the plug closures 23a, b and closing the openings 19, the pressure pad when it operates to forcefully apply the lid to the can body, is maintained in spaced relation from the said plug closures.

It is also appreciated that, if desired, suitable gasketing material (indicated at 40 in Fig. 2) such as conventional rubber gasketing compound normally applied between flange 17 and the can body 11 may also be interposed between any of the plug closure llanges 7.6, b, or C and the depending llanges 22 of the openings 19 to obtain an absolute hermetically sealed tit between the closures and the openings into which said closures are inserted.

Although the present invention has been described 1n some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

l claim:

1. An end closure for a can body comprising a sheet metal lid body seamed around its periphery to the can body closing the end thereof: at least one opening formed through said lid body defined by an interiorly depending circular flange; a plug closure including a plug body of substantially the same diameter as said opening pressfitted into said opening from the inside of said lid; and a circular flange of larger diameter than said opening provided on said plug body seated against said depending circular flange of said opening to prevent removal of said plug outwardly through said opening.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said plug enclosure is formed of stamped sheet metal.

3. The combination of claim l and wherein said plug i closure comprises an integral plastic body.

4. An end closure for a can body comprising a sheet metal lid body seamed around its periphery to the can body closing the end thereof: at least one opening punched in said lid body defined by an exteriorly raised embossed circular bead and an interiorly depending circular flange; a plug closure formed from an integral circular piece of sheet metal defining a central plug body of substantially the same diameter as said opening and a peripheral flange of larger diameter than said opening; the plug body of said closure press-fitted into said opening from the inside of said lid and with said flange seated against said depending circular flange of said opening restricting outward removal of said plug closure through said opening.

5. An end closure for a can container comprising a sheet metal lid body seamed around its periphery to the can body closing the end thereof; at least one opening formed in said lid body defined by an exteriorly raised embossed circular bead and an interiorly depending circular flange; a plug closure formed from an integral circular piece of sheet metal defining a central plug body of substantially the same diameter as said opening and an annularly grooved peripheral flange; the plug body of said closure press-fitted into said opening from the inside of said lid; said annularly grooved ange of said plug closure receiving and embracing said depending ange of said opening defining a metal seam iit between said annularly grooved flange and said depending flange.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said lid body denes a raised inner ring projecting above the plane of saidembossed circular bead defining said opening; and means comprising additional embossed raised areas formed in said lid body of the same height as said inner ring establishing stiifeningreinforcement for said lid to prevent deformation of said lid due to gas pressure generated Within said can container.

7. An end closure for a can body comprising a sheet metal lid body seamed around its periphery to the can body closing the end thereof: at least one opening formed through said lid body defined byhan interiorly depending circular ange; a plug closure including a plug -body of substantially the same diameter as said opening pressiitted into said opening from the inside of said lid; a circular flange of larger diameter than said opening Iprovided on said plug body seated against said depending circular ange of said opening to prevent removal of said plug outwardly through said opening; and hinge means hingedly connecting said plug and the interior of said lid to prevent said plug closure from loosely dropping inside of said can body upon being pushed inwardly into said body.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said hinge means comprises a bendable strip secured at one end to the inside surface of said lid body and at its other end to said plug closure.

9. The combination of claim 7 and wherein there are provided two spaced openings formed through said lid, and wherein there are provided two said plug closures press-fitted into said openings; said two plug closures formed from one integral body of material connected by a bendable strip of said material; means securing the central portion of said bendable strip to the inner surface of said lid; the unattached portions of said bendablestrip establishing hinge connections between said lid and each of said two plug closures.

l0. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said opening is formed by an exteriorly raised embossed circular bead and said interiorly depending circular ange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 119,657 Shaler Oct. 3, 1871 1,056,914 Lang Mar. 25, 1913 1,805,003 Newman May 12, 1931 1,867,060 Carr July 12, 1932 2,736,456 Clifford Feb. 28, 1956 

